Feb. 13, 2024
To understand how students are doing, the Board of Trustees annually monitors Results policies to gauge the success of the Calgary Board of Education as well as whether it is making reasonable progress towards achieving strong academic results.
In January, Results policy R-2: Academic Success was presented to the Board over two public meetings, and the Board of Trustees approved the report at its regular board meeting on Feb. 13. The report looks at trends over time (rather than a single school year) to monitor the academic success of students. This is one of the most important responsibilities of the Board of Trustees.
The report provides ample evidence that CBE students are successful. We are proud of every student, teacher and staff member who have worked together to ensure that students are achieving success. Some highlights of student success include:
- Provincial Performance: CBE students continue to consistently outperform the province on provincial tests and exams. The CBE’s provincial assessment results at the acceptable standard were higher than the provincial results in 2022-23, in 88 per cent of the cases.
- High School Completion Rates: High school completion rates after three, four and five years continue to increase. Current year high school completion rates as compared to the previous three-year average improved or improved significantly in 7 of 12 cases.
- Support for Diverse Populations: Teachers and professional staff continue to provide specialized supports and services to help an increasingly diverse population of students succeed at school.
Alberta students have also shown academic success globally, ranking second in the world for reading and science and seventh in mathematics based on the 2022 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Programme for International Student Assessment. In Canada, Alberta students rank first in reading and science and second in mathematics.
Undoubtedly, the past four years have presented challenges for students and staff. The CBE recognizes there will always be change and we are committed to continuing to evolve to meet the needs of students so that they can be successful in life, the world of work and continued learning.
Monitoring academic success is the foundation of continuous improvement. The report identifies areas of success and where improvements are needed. It further demonstrates that when we focus time and attention on areas for improvement, we see results.
“As we reflect on the academic success of CBE students and the tireless dedication of teachers and staff, we take great pride in their accomplishments,” said Laura Hack, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “In the face of significant challenges, CBE students continue to shine, and we look forward to building on these achievements this year.”
